Long time no post!

Was recently having a discussion on whether it's confidence that comes first or communication. I refuse to use the term "good commuincation" since one either communicates, or simply doesn't. Being a "bad" communicator only means that you cannot communicate at all!

So, does one have to be confident to communicate or does being a communicator gurantee confidence? I believe the former. If you are confident, you will be a communicator. I know of people who are the so claled "good" communicators - are very lucid in their explanations, very articulate, knowledgeable - but just don't have the guts to say what their opinion is and what they feel. What good is communication without confidence?

And I also know of people who are the so called "bad" communicators who - because of their self-confidence - are doing great in life! They might be verbose, not very lucid and not very great to talk to - but like they say "with confidence, even a lie seems like the truth". These people take that adage seriously - they implement it.

I am not proposing that we should start lying - but hell! It sure works!

The reason I thought this topic would be relevant to the issue of innovation is that innovation requires a certain level of pig-headedness. If you are not thick-skinned, there exist many people who will put you down and tell you that your idea sucks. Even if you are not a good communicator, it doesn't really matter - if you have a great idea, it will eventually come forth on its own mertis - communication or no communication.

But you will need self-confidence and even a certain level of arrogance to let your ideas bear fruit. With confidence you can persevere and do whatever the hell you want to - to take your idea forward to translate it into a reality. Communication in this case would be secondary - I say secondary because it would be important at some level. Again that would depend on the environment you are in - if you are in an organization where "listening" is a word non-existent in dictionaries - whether you communicate or not - your idea is doomed from the start.

Technorati: innovation, creativity, consulting, idea, aside

posted by Naina @ Permalink 5/03/2005 12:55:00 PM   0 comments  --- Google It! ---